Ford has given the Fiesta updated styling, new infotainment and hybrid engines from the Ford Puma.
At £16,620, the 2021 Ford Fiesta is £25 cheaper than the current model. That's the good news, the bad news is it won't go on sale until sometime next year. It faces a long list of rivals including cars like the Volkswagen Polo, Vauxhall Corsa and Toyota Yaris.
This is an updated version of the Ford Fiesta that went on sale in 2016, so don't expect huge changes.
That said, the new model is instantly recognisable because its Ford badge sits proudly on the grille rather than the lip of the bonnet. You also get a taller bonnet and the old car's filament headlights get swapped for LEDs. Matrix LEDs – that let you use your full beams in oncoming traffic – are on the options list for the first time.
Minor styling quirks mark out each model. So while Ford Fiesta Trend and Titanium cars have chrome, sporty ST-Line cars get glossy black plastic exterior highlights. Quasi-SUV Ford Fiesta Active models look a tad more rugged.
The Vignale pack is available on Ford Fiesta Titanium, ST-Line and Active models and adds 17 or 18-inch wheels, Sensico seat upholstery and matte carbon-effect interior trims.
A 12.3-inch multi-function infotainment display that replaces the conventional dials leads the Fiesta's interior changes. Its party piece is displaying a huge sat-nav map behind the steering wheel.
It also has a display that gives you an overview of the Fiesta's autonomous driving aids that have been bolstered for 2021. They now include Wrong Way Alert that makes it clear if you're driving the wrong way down the motorway (yep, apparently it's needed), automatic cruise control that can read (and stick to) speed limits and auto park.
Mild hybrid engines – first offered on the Ford Puma – are available with the Ford Fiesta for the first time.
A large starter motor with a 48v power supply means the Fiesta can coast on the motorway and engage its start-stop system before you've come to a complete stop. It also gives an electric boost as you make off again. This cleverness makes the Fiesta up to 10% more efficient than the same engine without the technology.
You can have it mated to two 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines producing 125PS or 155PS. The former is available with a seven-speed dual-clutch in place of the standard six-speed manual – it returns fuel economy of 45mpg and CO2 emissions of 117g/km for year-one road tax of £180.
The less powerful 100PS version of the same engine (but without the mild-hybrid technology) costs exactly the same to run.
The Fiesta ST – one of our favourite hot hatches – receives the same styling updates as the standard car, while inside you get heavily bolstered sports seats that lift the cabin. Performance is unchanged, though.
With a new Ford Fiesta on the way, it's an ideal time to get a great deal on the current Ford Fiesta model. Head to heycar and you'll find a wealth of Ford Fiestas to choose from.
Less than £7000 is enough to get you a well-equipped 2016 Ford Fiesta Titanium with 70,000 miles on the clock and Ford's punchy but cheap-to-run 100PS EcoBoost petrol engine under the bonnet. Want sportier looks and a fresher car? How about a 2020 Ford Fiesta ST-Line with the 125PS version of the same engine and a 10,000-mile mileage.
There is and it is on sale now, though deliveries don't start until 2022.
If you want a stylish small car that is great to drive and cheap to run then, yes, you should buy a Ford Fiesta.
We'd go for a Ford Fiesta with an EcoBoost engine (they're nippy and cheap to run) and in mid-range Titanium specification which has all the creature comforts you really need.